Cramps - Page 3 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

05-31-2004, 03:33 PM

InfoQuest wrote:
> I have been fighting cramps for about 5 years and have done a ton of
> research. Other than the Gatorade indicate below, do you use any
> sports/energy type drinks?
>
> Have you had any previous episodes?
>
>

I haven't used anything but Gatorade. Note to Jobst--I took a look at a
the label on a can---37% RDA of Sodium and 22% RDA of Postassium--You're
right.

I have had this happen a time or two before on backpack trips--a heavy
load, long climb + altitude did it too me, but I'm lighter and in better
shape now and wasn't expecting it. I didn't drink anything while on the
hard part of the climb. That may be the key. I have noticed as I expand
by capabilities, the first time on something new is ghastly, the second
time hard, the third time I wonder what the problems was, and the fourth
time I get careless and its hard again.

Mike

take 100 out of my email to reach me.

05-31-2004, 03:37 PM

In article <MzLuc.16852$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pas.earthlin k.net>,
Mike McGuire <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>So what to do about this? How to avoid it. I want to do rides like this
>and more. It wasn't like a bonk. If it weren't for the cramps, I had
>plenty of energy to keep going.

Well you say you weren't dehydrated, but I think you're mistaken.

Drink more and use an electrolyte replacement on long/hot/hard
rides. It's very easy to underestimate your sweat rate when climbing,
and especially at altitude or in dry climate. Eating mineral
supplements can help, however if you are not drinking enough you
may just be working on a kidney stone if you add lots of minerals
to your dehydrated body (especially if using cal-mags which contain
a lot of calcium).

24oz per hour in hot climbing conditions is not at all excessive.
However your sweat rate is highly individual and you will need to
measure it to find out how much you are losing. Generally this
means you weigh yourself before and after the ride and assume you
are about a pint low for each pound you lose. Then add that
number of pints to the amount you did drink on the ride, and divide
by the number of hours you were on the road. That will tell you
your hydration target for the next time.

I do a 4-6 hour mountain ride (often hot weather) about once a week
and I have had pretty good luck using Cytomax or Endurolytes. But
to be perfectly honest I don't think these products have any special
magic - if you pay attention to your hydration and do any form of
electrolyte replacement you will probably be OK.

--Paul

05-31-2004, 03:37 PM

In article <MzLuc.16852$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pas.earthlin k.net>,
Mike McGuire <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>So what to do about this? How to avoid it. I want to do rides like this
>and more. It wasn't like a bonk. If it weren't for the cramps, I had
>plenty of energy to keep going.

Well you say you weren't dehydrated, but I think you're mistaken.

Drink more and use an electrolyte replacement on long/hot/hard
rides. It's very easy to underestimate your sweat rate when climbing,
and especially at altitude or in dry climate. Eating mineral
supplements can help, however if you are not drinking enough you
may just be working on a kidney stone if you add lots of minerals
to your dehydrated body (especially if using cal-mags which contain
a lot of calcium).

24oz per hour in hot climbing conditions is not at all excessive.
However your sweat rate is highly individual and you will need to
measure it to find out how much you are losing. Generally this
means you weigh yourself before and after the ride and assume you
are about a pint low for each pound you lose. Then add that
number of pints to the amount you did drink on the ride, and divide
by the number of hours you were on the road. That will tell you
your hydration target for the next time.

I do a 4-6 hour mountain ride (often hot weather) about once a week
and I have had pretty good luck using Cytomax or Endurolytes. But
to be perfectly honest I don't think these products have any special
magic - if you pay attention to your hydration and do any form of
electrolyte replacement you will probably be OK.

--Paul

05-31-2004, 03:37 PM

In article <MzLuc.16852$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pas.earthlin k.net>,
Mike McGuire <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>So what to do about this? How to avoid it. I want to do rides like this
>and more. It wasn't like a bonk. If it weren't for the cramps, I had
>plenty of energy to keep going.

Well you say you weren't dehydrated, but I think you're mistaken.

Drink more and use an electrolyte replacement on long/hot/hard
rides. It's very easy to underestimate your sweat rate when climbing,
and especially at altitude or in dry climate. Eating mineral
supplements can help, however if you are not drinking enough you
may just be working on a kidney stone if you add lots of minerals
to your dehydrated body (especially if using cal-mags which contain
a lot of calcium).

24oz per hour in hot climbing conditions is not at all excessive.
However your sweat rate is highly individual and you will need to
measure it to find out how much you are losing. Generally this
means you weigh yourself before and after the ride and assume you
are about a pint low for each pound you lose. Then add that
number of pints to the amount you did drink on the ride, and divide
by the number of hours you were on the road. That will tell you
your hydration target for the next time.

I do a 4-6 hour mountain ride (often hot weather) about once a week
and I have had pretty good luck using Cytomax or Endurolytes. But
to be perfectly honest I don't think these products have any special
magic - if you pay attention to your hydration and do any form of
electrolyte replacement you will probably be OK.

--Paul

05-31-2004, 03:37 PM

In article <MzLuc.16852$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pas.earthlin k.net>,
Mike McGuire <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>So what to do about this? How to avoid it. I want to do rides like this
>and more. It wasn't like a bonk. If it weren't for the cramps, I had
>plenty of energy to keep going.

Well you say you weren't dehydrated, but I think you're mistaken.

Drink more and use an electrolyte replacement on long/hot/hard
rides. It's very easy to underestimate your sweat rate when climbing,
and especially at altitude or in dry climate. Eating mineral
supplements can help, however if you are not drinking enough you
may just be working on a kidney stone if you add lots of minerals
to your dehydrated body (especially if using cal-mags which contain
a lot of calcium).

24oz per hour in hot climbing conditions is not at all excessive.
However your sweat rate is highly individual and you will need to
measure it to find out how much you are losing. Generally this
means you weigh yourself before and after the ride and assume you
are about a pint low for each pound you lose. Then add that
number of pints to the amount you did drink on the ride, and divide
by the number of hours you were on the road. That will tell you
your hydration target for the next time.

I do a 4-6 hour mountain ride (often hot weather) about once a week
and I have had pretty good luck using Cytomax or Endurolytes. But
to be perfectly honest I don't think these products have any special
magic - if you pay attention to your hydration and do any form of
electrolyte replacement you will probably be OK.

--Paul

05-31-2004, 03:37 PM

In article <MzLuc.16852$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pas.earthlin k.net>,
Mike McGuire <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>So what to do about this? How to avoid it. I want to do rides like this
>and more. It wasn't like a bonk. If it weren't for the cramps, I had
>plenty of energy to keep going.

Well you say you weren't dehydrated, but I think you're mistaken.

Drink more and use an electrolyte replacement on long/hot/hard
rides. It's very easy to underestimate your sweat rate when climbing,
and especially at altitude or in dry climate. Eating mineral
supplements can help, however if you are not drinking enough you
may just be working on a kidney stone if you add lots of minerals
to your dehydrated body (especially if using cal-mags which contain
a lot of calcium).

24oz per hour in hot climbing conditions is not at all excessive.
However your sweat rate is highly individual and you will need to
measure it to find out how much you are losing. Generally this
means you weigh yourself before and after the ride and assume you
are about a pint low for each pound you lose. Then add that
number of pints to the amount you did drink on the ride, and divide
by the number of hours you were on the road. That will tell you
your hydration target for the next time.

I do a 4-6 hour mountain ride (often hot weather) about once a week
and I have had pretty good luck using Cytomax or Endurolytes. But
to be perfectly honest I don't think these products have any special
magic - if you pay attention to your hydration and do any form of
electrolyte replacement you will probably be OK.

--Paul

05-31-2004, 03:40 PM

<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:wtNuc.14287$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> David Kerber writes:
>
> >> So what to do about this? How to avoid it. I want to do rides like
> >> this and more. It wasn't like a bonk. If it weren't for the
> >> cramps, I had plenty of energy to keep going. It seems like it was
> >> some sort of depletion thing going on. I hit zero on something and
> >> the cramps started. I stopped and recovered a little bit, but
> >> before long I zeroed out again, and finally I got to where there
> >> was no recovery at all.
>
> > Pure muscular exhaustion can cause cramps, but from what I've read
> > and experienced, low electrolytes (particularly potassium and
> > sodium) can contribute as well. In your case, it sounds like you
> > had simply over- worked your legs.
>
> In that respect, V8-Vegetable juice is probably the best drink
> commonly found in stores that contains the electrolytes needed. Of
> course it isn't a classy name like Power Bar or Gatorade, but it beats
> these in content. Check the label.

Ick. The thought of drinking V8 in 95 degree Florida heat makes my stomach
turn. :-) Think I'll just drink Gatorade and eat a banana.....

05-31-2004, 03:40 PM

<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:wtNuc.14287$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> David Kerber writes:
>
> >> So what to do about this? How to avoid it. I want to do rides like
> >> this and more. It wasn't like a bonk. If it weren't for the
> >> cramps, I had plenty of energy to keep going. It seems like it was
> >> some sort of depletion thing going on. I hit zero on something and
> >> the cramps started. I stopped and recovered a little bit, but
> >> before long I zeroed out again, and finally I got to where there
> >> was no recovery at all.
>
> > Pure muscular exhaustion can cause cramps, but from what I've read
> > and experienced, low electrolytes (particularly potassium and
> > sodium) can contribute as well. In your case, it sounds like you
> > had simply over- worked your legs.
>
> In that respect, V8-Vegetable juice is probably the best drink
> commonly found in stores that contains the electrolytes needed. Of
> course it isn't a classy name like Power Bar or Gatorade, but it beats
> these in content. Check the label.

Ick. The thought of drinking V8 in 95 degree Florida heat makes my stomach
turn. :-) Think I'll just drink Gatorade and eat a banana.....

05-31-2004, 03:40 PM

<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:wtNuc.14287$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> David Kerber writes:
>
> >> So what to do about this? How to avoid it. I want to do rides like
> >> this and more. It wasn't like a bonk. If it weren't for the
> >> cramps, I had plenty of energy to keep going. It seems like it was
> >> some sort of depletion thing going on. I hit zero on something and
> >> the cramps started. I stopped and recovered a little bit, but
> >> before long I zeroed out again, and finally I got to where there
> >> was no recovery at all.
>
> > Pure muscular exhaustion can cause cramps, but from what I've read
> > and experienced, low electrolytes (particularly potassium and
> > sodium) can contribute as well. In your case, it sounds like you
> > had simply over- worked your legs.
>
> In that respect, V8-Vegetable juice is probably the best drink
> commonly found in stores that contains the electrolytes needed. Of
> course it isn't a classy name like Power Bar or Gatorade, but it beats
> these in content. Check the label.

Ick. The thought of drinking V8 in 95 degree Florida heat makes my stomach
turn. :-) Think I'll just drink Gatorade and eat a banana.....

05-31-2004, 03:40 PM

<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:wtNuc.14287$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> David Kerber writes:
>
> >> So what to do about this? How to avoid it. I want to do rides like
> >> this and more. It wasn't like a bonk. If it weren't for the
> >> cramps, I had plenty of energy to keep going. It seems like it was
> >> some sort of depletion thing going on. I hit zero on something and
> >> the cramps started. I stopped and recovered a little bit, but
> >> before long I zeroed out again, and finally I got to where there
> >> was no recovery at all.
>
> > Pure muscular exhaustion can cause cramps, but from what I've read
> > and experienced, low electrolytes (particularly potassium and
> > sodium) can contribute as well. In your case, it sounds like you
> > had simply over- worked your legs.
>
> In that respect, V8-Vegetable juice is probably the best drink
> commonly found in stores that contains the electrolytes needed. Of
> course it isn't a classy name like Power Bar or Gatorade, but it beats
> these in content. Check the label.

Ick. The thought of drinking V8 in 95 degree Florida heat makes my stomach
turn. :-) Think I'll just drink Gatorade and eat a banana.....